Chapter 35 The training grounds 2

Chapter 35: Chapter 35 The training grounds 2

Talia’s POV

I followed the sounds. Through a door, then left, then through another door.

I stood close to the door for a few minutes, thinking about whether I should open it to check or not. I finally decided to leave. But as I turned around, I heard his voice, loud: "Come on, attack me properly."

I froze and blinked in surprise.

I thought my ears must not be working properly as I had been filling my head with him for the past few days, but I heard his voice again.

I turned and walked back to the door, then I opened it just a little bit.

The large training grounds came into view, as weapons racks lined the edges, and wolves sparred in pairs, with their bodies moving like water.

And there, in the center of it all, was Kaelen.

He was sparring with Jax, Silas, and Cain. All three of them at once.

Jax lunged at him, but Kaelen sidestepped, swept his leg, and Jax hit the ground hard.

Silas came from the left, but Kaelen blocked his strike and shoved him back.

Cain attacked from behind, but Kaelen spun at the same time and caught his fist. He held it there, frozen, then he pushed Cain away.

They were not holding back. Each strike was fast and hard, and each movement was precise and deadly. But Kaelen was winning.

I found a spot near the wall, hidden in the shadows. I needed to stay in a covered place, so no one could see that I was here. That way, I could watch safely without being seen.

I knew I should not be watching, and I should leave. But I could not.

I watched him fight, and I loved the way his body moved like water. I liked the way his muscles tensed and released with every strike, and the way his gray eyes stayed focused, never wavering.

He was shirtless, and his skin was slick with sweat. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead, and his chest was heaving, but he did not slow down.

Jax came at him again grinning, but Kaelen blocked, spun, and knocked him to the ground.

Silas tried to catch him off guard, but Kaelen was ready. He caught Silas’s fist and twisted it, until Silas dropped to his knees.

Cain attacked from the side, but Kaelen stepped back, and Cain stumbled forward. Kaelen swept his legs, and Cain fell flat on his face, barely catching himself before he hit the ground.

Kaelen stood in the center of the training grounds, with his chest heaving, and his hands on his hips, as his gray eyes swept across the field.

My heart was pounding, my face was burning, and my breath caught in my throat from just watching him.

He was beautiful. Not like the tapestries on the walls, and not like the sunset painting the sky.

He was beautiful like a sword, sharp, dangerous, and made for battle.

I was so locked in that I could not look away.

I watched him train for what felt like hours.

He moved from one opponent to the next, never resting, and never slowing down. His body was a weapon, and he wielded it with precision and power.

Jax stepped back, breathing hard. "That is enough for me."

Silas nodded. "I am done too."

Cain said nothing. He just walked to the edge of the training grounds and picked up his shirt.

Kaelen stood alone in the center of the field, as his chest was heaving, and his hands were on his hips. His gray eyes were still scanning, still searching.

Then they stopped.

They were looking in my direction.

My heart stopped, and for a moment I was afraid. But I assured myself that he could not see me, because I was hidden in the shadows. So he could not see me.

But when I looked through the small opening, he was looking right at me.

I did not move, as if my feet were frozen to the ground. My hands were shaking, and my breath was shallow.

He stared for a long moment at my position, then he looked away.

He walked to the edge of the training grounds and picked up his shirt. He pulled it over his head, and his muscles disappeared beneath the fabric.

I pressed myself against the wall, trying to make myself smaller.

I stood there for a long time without looking back into the training ground. I pressed my back against the cold stone wall, with my heart still pounding, and my face still burning.

I had been staring, and I had been caught in the process.

He had looked right in my direction, and I felt he knew I was there. But he had not said anything, and he had not come over. He had just looked, then walked away to wear his shirt.

I did not know what that meant. I did not know if he was angry or indifferent or something else entirely.

But I knew one thing.

I could not stop thinking about him.

I pushed off the wall and prepared to walk back to my room. My legs were shaking, and my hands were trembling, but I kept my head down and my eyes on the floor.

I did not want anyone to see my face, and I did not want anyone to know what I had been doing.

But before I could move, I heard footsteps coming, and I froze.